Improvement in hay-tedders



J. M. HILL Hay-Tedder.

No. 205,3 4. Patented lune z5g 1 s7s.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

IENs, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WAsmNGwN. D

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. HILL, or ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAY-TEDDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 205,3S4, dated June 25, 1878 application filed I May 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. HILL, of Ann Arbor, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented'a new and valuable Improvement in Hay-Tedders; and "I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

' Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a longitudinal vertical section of my haytedder through the line 00 m, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

The nature of my invention relates to a novel and improved construction of hay-tedders, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrate my invention.

A A represent the driving-wheels, each of which is mounted in a frame, B, composed of a single iron strap bent at or near the center, and forming two parallel arms a suitable distance apart, as shown. The two frames are connected at their front ends by top and bottom bars 0 C, fastened to them by bolts to a, as shown. Another bar, C, and a rod, 1), immediately behind the same, connect the inner arms of the two frames.

On the inner arm of each frame B, near the rear end, is pivoted an L-shaped lever, D, and in the rear ends of these levers is journaled the roller F, which forms the head for the teeth. Each tooth forms a curved or semicircular tooth, G, and a straight tooth, I, located across the circle, as shown. These teeth may be made of one piece of spring-wire coiled around the head, or of two separate pieces, if desired. In both cases they are, fastened in the head by means of iron bars or rods 6 0, let into the head lengthwise. These bars or rods also strengthen the head, and are fastened by bolts, and then iron bands dd are fitted over the ends of the head.

The head is rotated by means hereinafter described, and during its revolution, as each circle spring-tooth G comes incontact with the hay it rises up or bends farther, and the straight tooth I then projects down into the hay. As the circle tooth leaves the ground it springs back, throwing the hay back and shaking it up very nicely. Each tooth G passes through a staple, f, to keep the same from springing too far back. The tooth I also passes through the same staple, and said staple keeps the teeth in place.

At each end of the head F is a small pinion, h, secured on a shaft, '5, which passes through an eye in the end of the lever D, and is driven into the end of the shaft, where it is held by a bolt, 00, passing through the band at, head F, and shaft 2', which secures and makes the whole firm and solid.

The pinion h on each end of the head meshes with a gear-wheel, J, mounted on a stud on the inner arm of the frame F, and this wheel meshes with a similar wheel, H, on the axle of the driving-wheel A, this latter gear-wheel being connected to the drive-wheel by a pawl and ratchet. These gear-wheels are gaged so that the tedder-head will revolve eight times to each revolution of the driving-wheel.

The inner ends of the levers D D are, by rods m m, connected with arms a n on the ends of a shaft, n, which is held in suitable bearings on the front side of the bar 0'.

The shaft n is provided with a lever, L, so as to throw the tedder in and out of gear, as required, said lever being held in either position by means of a spring-catch, It, and this spring-catch is thrown out by means of a pivoted foot-piece, P, as shown.

The parts are arranged in such a manner that when the tedder is thrown in gear the pinions h will be square behind the middle or intermediate gear-wheels J.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The revolving tedder-head F, provided with'curved spring-teeth G and straight teeth I, said teeth G adapted to throw the hay back i by force of the spring after the teeth leave the ground, as herein specified. I

2. The combination of the head F, teeth G I, staple f, rod or bar 6, and bands 01 (1, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

, JAlVIES l. HILL.

Witnesses DENsMoRE CRAMER, I. L. GRINNELL. 

